Stranding machine head



'June 9, 1931. G. c. GREGSON STRANDING MACHINE HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 4, 1927 N; A \u "2%.

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' INVENTOR George C. Gr son BY fi ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1 931 UNITED .smras PATENT o Flca GEORGE C. GREGSON, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CABLE COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF DEIIAWARE STRANDING MACHINE HEAD Application filed August 4, 1927, Serial K0. 210,548. Renewed September 3, 1980.

This invention relates to the fabrication of stranded wire structures and is 0f,particular utility when embodied in an appliance adapted to set each of the components of such a stranded wire structure to the form which each such component is to occupy in the stranded structure, the purpose of such preformation of the components being in general to produce a structure having the characteristic of inert lay, so that the components will not tend to unravel when the strand, wire rope, cable or the like is severe An object of the invention is to provide an appliance for the above purpose in the form of a forming head comprisinga support provided with several sets of forming devices, and adapted to be mounted upon a shaft which is arran ed to rotate about the axis of the stranded wlre structure under formation, the forming devices acting to form the several components into helices as each wire or other component is drawn or otherwise forced through one of the sets of formin devices, while simultaneously b means 0 revolution of the several sets of orming devices around the axis of the stranded wire structure, a planetary motion is imparted to the helically formed components and the latter are lald consecutively in assembled relation about a core or other suitable under- 1 'ng structure as the latter is moved along t e axis of-the completed product at a rate properly co-ordinated with the rate of rotation of the head to produce a lay of the desired pitch.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide forming devices so grouped and supported upon the rotatable head that corresponding devices in order of operation in each set are mounted in a group constitutin a movable unit upon the head and each, suc 1 unit or group of forming devices can be moved readily, by sliding the part carrying that group of forming devices alon the axis of the head, to change the co-axial y spaced relation'of the devices in that group relatively to adjacent groups of devices so as to change uniformly and simultaneously the pitch of the lay.

in such a manner that at least one of the groups ma be readily'rotated around the axis of the ead to vary the angular relation of the preforming devlces on that unit relatively to the devlces on adjacent units so as to change uniformly and simultaneously the diameter of the helices which are to be formed in the several components.

Another object is to provide forming de vices which comprise rolls, with pivots which are accessible and readily removable for the urpose of installing and removing the rolls or repair or to substitute rolls having different characteristics suitable for the formation of the different types of stranded Wire structure, without the necessity of disassembling theforming head in its entirety.

The above and other features of the invention are illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fi 1 is a view in front elevation of a forming head in the construction of which this invention has been embodied.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, this figure showing also a closin head, with strand components in course 0 formation to form a wire-rope.

In the now preferred form of embodiment of the invention selected for illustrationand description, the part designated by the reference character 1 is a shaft, preferably hollow to permit the passage therethrough of a core 0, or other underlymg part of the eventual stranded wire structure, which structure is designated by the reference character C, the same taking the form, in the instance illustrated of a wire rope, composed of several strands a, laid in helical relation around the core 0, each strand being formed of several wires a laid in helical relation about a core wire a, preferably by means of a similar appliance, it being understoodthattheappliance illustrated, or others like it, can be utilized for the production of a stranded wire structure consisting of a strand having several wires, or a wire rope having several strands each composed of several wires, or wire cable composed of several ropes,.or in general any kind of stranded wire structure of the type whose components it is desirable to set in the form which they are to occupy in the completed structure. v a

The shaft 1 is shown as having a reduced portion 2 at its forward end, and upon this reduced portion is shown at 3 a support for the, forming devices 4, this support preferably comprisin a steel sleeve which is held fast upon the shaft by means of a threaded collar 5 screwed at 6'upon the end 7 of the shaft, and secured in place by a set screw 8, the sleeve having a key-way 9 running its full len h, and also being provided with pinion teet 10 for a purpose to be described.

Upon this sleeve are mounted in fixed position relatively to the axis, a series of' carriers for the units or groups of preforming d'evices,these carriers preferably taking the form of collars or flanges 11, 12 and 13, the

collars 11 and 13 being secured by set-screws 14 against co-axial movement, while they are fixed in position to rotate with the sleeve by means of splines or keys 15 which extend .into

the key-way 9-, and against which the setscrews. 14 bear.

The flange 12, which is that between the flanges 11 and 13, is rotatable around the sleeve, such rotation being effected-by a worm 16 carried by a shaft 17 mounted on the flange 12 and meshing with-the teeth 10 upon the sleeve, to which reference has already been made;

In pursuance of the invention provision is made for varying readily the distance between the groups of preforming devices, in order to change uniformly and simultaneously the pitch of the lay, and asthe nowpreferred form of means for this purpose the flanges 11,12 and 13 are adapted to be moved co-axially along the sleeve 3 into any desired position relatively to each other and the axial position of the flanges may be maintained conveniently by suitable means, such as the spacing collars or rings 18, which may be replaced by spacers of suitable width when the distance between the flanges is changed, anda similar spacing ring 19 may serve to afford additional rigidity to the spaced arrangement of the fian e 13 relatively to the collar 5 at the end of the sleeve, withstanding the thrust produced in drawing the strand components through the forming devices 4.

The forming devices may be of any suitable character, and as a now-preferred form of forming device I have shown each of the forming devices as constituted by a roll having a peripheral groove'21, the rolls being,

secured to the periphery of their respectivesupporting flanges by pivot studs 22, which enter sockets or recesses 23 in the flanges and are there secured by set screws 24, the studs 22 being adjustable lengthwise in their sockets to effect radial adjustment of the rolls 4. The supporting flanges are preferably bevelled peripherally as at 25, to afford seats or V flat bearings for the rolls, and the size of the flanges and the inclination of the bevelled seat ortions is preferably such that the rolls will be supported with the grooves substantially in alignment sothat the axis of each stud is perpendicular to an imaginary cone the apex of which lies in the axis of ponents, which are respectively designated by the reference character 0, are delivered in proper converging relation to be laid consecutively in helical relation upon the core a.

In preparing for production of a stranded wire structure, the unformed strand components c, which may be derived from any suitable source of supply, such for example as reels or supply carriers (not shown) mounted suitably to receive a planetary motion around the core member 0, are led through a suitable guide flange 27 having a' hub 28 secured. by a set screw 29 upon the shaft 1, and thence the components 0 are respectively threaded each through a set of the rolls 4 preferably in the manner illustrated in the drawings. I

In the instance illustrated each strand component passes over a roll 4 on flange 11,

then under a roll 4 on flange 12 and then over I a roll 4 on flange 13, the flange 12 being set in the desired position to secure the proper diameter of helix by turning the flange 12 by means of the shaft 17 and worm 16 to rotate the flange 12 so that its rolls 4 occupy the desired angular position relatively to the position of the other rolls of its set. In Fig. 1 is indicated by dotted lines at 40 the position of the middle roll 4 of'each setwhen the flange 12 has been turned relatively to the flanges 11 and 13 to cause displacement of the said rolls from the radial plane in which lie the axes of the studs, in the fullline position, for the purpose of forming a helix of larger diameter,

As already indicated, the portion of each component designated by the reference character 0 which is under formation helically erably threaded through a closing head 30 which may be of any suitable character, being shown as of conven ional form, and thence stored for use. Any suitable drawing off the'st'randed wire structure is drawn off and i mechanism may be utilized for this purpose and it is not illustrated for the reason that such mechanism is well known to those while the forming head rotates, as above described, the drawing ofl' mechanism should operate to haul off the wire rope or other stranded wire structure non-rotatively, at a rate properly proportioned to' the rate of rotation of the forming head, for the purpose of securing any given pitch of lay.

' The part designated by the reference character R is a pointer which co-operates with a scale R to indicate the angular position of the flange 12.

It will be understood readily from the above description that the appliance forming the subject of this invention can be utilized for the fabrication of wire strand, wire rope or wire cable, with only slight adjustments or substitutions of parts suitable to operate upon different types of material and to produce the desired formof stranded wire structure; also that these adjustments can be readily effected with ordinary tools and by workmen of avera e skill; also that the working parts are rea ily accessible for such alterations and substitutions, and that the structure as a whole is of a sturdy character, easy to construct, and involving but lit-' tle expense for maintenance.

I claim:

1. A stranding head for imparting to plural components of a stranded wire structure the form which each of said components is to occupy in the composite structure, said head comprising a support; a set of carriers mounted upon said support; means to retain said carriers in fixed position upon said support, said means being adapted to permit the axial spacing of said carriers relatively to each other to be varied; and radially adjustable forming devices arranged in groups around the peripheries of said carriers, with means to co-ordinate the radial position of said forming devices with the axial spacing of said carriers.

2. A stranding head for imparting to plural components of a stranded wire structure the form which each of said components is to occupy in the composite structure, said head comprising a support, a set of carriers mounted upon said support; means to retain said carriers in fixed position upon said sup port, said means being adapted to permit the axial spacing of said carriers relativel to each 0t er to be varied; and radially adjustable forming devices arranged in groups around the peripheries of said carriers in sets each comprising a forming device ineach of said oups, one of the groups being movable into ifierent angular positions relatively to is; plgne radial to the longitudinal axis of said 3. A stranding head for imparting to plural components of a stranded wire structure the form which each of said components is" to occupy in the composite structure, saidv skilled in the art. It is to be noted that h ead comprising a support adaptcdto be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having.

means to hold the same in assembled relation with the shaft and to permit ready removal with said support;1neans to retain said carriers in spaced variable axial positions upon said support; and radially adjustable forming devices arranged in groups around the peripheries of said carriers.

4. A' stranding head for imparting to plural components of a stranded wire structure the form which each of said components-is to occupy in. the compositestructure, said head comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having means to hold the same in assembled relation with the shaft and to permit ready removal therefrom, said sleeve having also peripheral pinion teeth; a set of carriers mounted to rotate with said support; means to retain said carrier-s in variable spaced positions upon said sleeve; and forming devices arranged in groups around the peripheries of said carriers in sets each comprising a forming deviceon each of said carriers, one of the carriers, with its group of forming devices, being movable into difierent an ular positions relatively to said other earners; and means to effect said angular variation, said means comprisinga Worm gear on said carrier meshing with said pinion teeth.

5. A forming head for imparting to plural components of a stranded wire structurev the form which each of said components is to occupy in the composite structure, said head comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having means to hold the same in assembled relation with the shaft and to permit ready removal therefrom, said sleeve having peripheral pinion teeth; a set of flanges mounted to rotate with said sleeve; means to retain said flanges in variable. axial positions upon said sleeve, one of said flanges have a worm gear meshing with said teeth to permit ready rotation of the flange about the sleeve and to maintain the flange in fixed rotative position; forming devices arranged in sets around the peripheries of said flanges, said sets each comprising three rolls, mounted upon pivots fixed radially in said flanges; and spacer de vices to aid in maintaining the distance between said flanges.

6. A forming head for imparting to plural components of a-stranded wire structure the form which each of said components is to occupy' in the composite structure, said head comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted upon a rotatable shaft and having means to'hold the same in assembled relation with the shaft and to permit ready removal specification.

therefrom, said sleeve having peripheral pinion teeth; a set of flanges mounted to rotate with said sleeve; means to retain said flanges in variable. axial positions upon said sleeve, one of said'flanges having a Worm gear meshing with said teeth to permit ready rotation of the flange about the sleeve and to maintain the flange in fixed rotative position forming devices arranged in sets around the peripheries of said flanges, said sets each comprising three rolls, mounted upon pivots fixed radially in said flanges, and spacer devices to aid in maintaining the distance between said flanges, said spacer devices comprising removable rings surrounding said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this GEORGE e. GREGSON. 

